Tag Archives: Forensic science

Forensics and Law for the Week: From the News and Courts in the US

Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Michigan State University have published a new study on the development of an algorithm that can determine whether a fingerprint found at a crime scene contains enough information to be uploaded … Continue reading

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Houston crime lab gets more bad press: misplaced evidence

https://www.click2houston.com/news/dna-evidence-in-19-year-old-case-found-in-former-houston-forensic-science-employees-office The article states that the new administration of the revamped crime lab reported this discrepancy and have safeguards in place regarding eliminating this type of error.

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DNA swabs during arrest not expunged and survive to skew database stats

DNA collected at arrest often not removed from crime databases for those not convicted “Once you enter the system, you can never leave……” http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/08/dna_collected_at_arrest_often_not_removed_from_crime_databases_for_those_not_convicted.html

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Another FBI “standard, reliable, trusted” method goes haywire – Profilers

If you wonder how accurate criminal profiling actually is, just read this LA Times article about the myths surrounding it’s admission into criminal courts. Ole US DOJ has long “accepted” whatever these people come up with regarding perps. The next-gen … Continue reading

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Holtzclaw case points to the misuse and mis information of DNA evidence

  Add this case to the list of fundamental problems associated with crime lab related determinations of DNA profiling that, as in this case, are misinterpreted in favor of guilt. The alternatives were never brought forth by defense counsel. A … Continue reading

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Another glimpse at how the Fed ignores scientific proofs – Arson and the ATF

Here is a long-standing federal agency, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, basking in their scientifically outdated historical about arson caused fires. They use a “process of elimination” theory of criminal actions. Others call it old fashioned and biased. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Experts-cast-doubt-on-ATF-s-arson-finding-in-West-11725989.php One must … Continue reading

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Fours years of suspicion and interrogations, film-maker excluded by better DNA Testing

Here is the 48 Hours look at Michael Usry Carol Dodge as having become prime suspects in a cold murder case from Idaho. Ancestry.com had something to do with it, of course.  Here is what just came out from the … Continue reading

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5 years later. Lynn Peavey field testing a joke. Ex CIA couple get visited by SWAT.

A federal appellate panel goes positive for a prior dismissed civil suit by this finest example of why police should not do their own forensic testing let alone manage forensic evidence. . Appeals court rages against police bumbling and lie … Continue reading

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Unadulterated Forensic Balderdash: Ventriloquism and Human DNA

  From the get-go, this is beyond the pale of anything remotely related to a scientific proof. “Every person’s voice is unique, just like your fingerprint and DNA, so we are on our way to converting voice to kind of … Continue reading

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Imwinkelried on Science and Law : Paving the Way for Courts About Junk Forensics

I do not like to use “junk” regarding flawed forensics. Let’s say that “invalidated” forensics is more professional and is easier on the reader. Nevertheless, semantics will not cure State criminal courts from fumbling badly when inmates appeal the misleading … Continue reading

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